A three-point haul with all the trimmings
PAOK produced an excellent display at the Panthessaliko on Sunday, dominating Volos and claiming all three points in some style via a convincing 4-0 scoreline. It was the ideal start to the upcoming “derby week” with a mid-week Greek Cup clash with AEK coming up ahead of another big match against league leaders Olympiacos at the Toumba next Sunday.
Razvan Lucescu’s team went out onto the pitch in determined mood and gave the home side no room to manouver. With Sastre in the starting line-up making his debut, and with Mitrita and Biseswar also in the staerting XI, along with Akpom and A. Zivkovic, the Double-headed Eagle took control right from the beginning and started to threaten.
A. Zivkovic was the first player to make inroads into Volos’ penalty area in the second minute, but his effort was saved by Kleyman, while four minutes later Kurtic hit the cross-bar from a good position.
In the 20th minute the breakthrough came when Mitrita surged into the area and was upended by Fernandez. The referee pointed the spot and Kurtic stepped up to convert the spot-kick and make it 1-0.
In the 29th minute, PAOK virtually ended the game as a contest. After a corner by A. Zivkovic, Kurtic met the ball with his head to nod it on, and then Ingason headed it past Kleyman.
PAOK missed two more good opportunities to extend their lead, first via Akpom and then in the 39th minute, Kleyman saved well from A. Zivkovic who had cleverly created an opening for himself with a wide position.
In the 45th minute, Volos had their only real opportunity to score, but Paschalakis produced an impressive save to deny them.
The second half saw more of the same, with PAOK having most of the possession and creating opportunities, with A. Zivkovic, Akpom and Biseswar all unable to beat the opposing goalkeeper on three separate ocassions.
Then, after 65 minutes, it was newboy Joan Sastre’s turn to show the way. Following a corner by A. Zivkovic, the Spanish right-back produced an impressive finish on the move to make it 3-0, scoring on his debut.
In the 73rd minute, Akpom then converted an assist from Mitrita to put the icing on the cake and make it 4-0 to the visitors, giving the scoreline an even more impressive look.
PAOK return to Thessaloniki with the three points and now turn their attention to the second leg of their Greek Cup quarter-final tie against AEK at the OAKA on Wednesday (26.01, 17:00), when a place in the last four will be at stake.
Team lineups:
Volos: Kleyman, Purita, Romero, Gulen, Ferrari, Tsokanis, Barrientos (87′ Tereziou), Bartolo (46′ Regattin), Seros (77′ Soares), Fernandes (85′ Rosero), Van Weert.
PAOK: Paschalakis, Sastre (76′ Vieirinha), Ingason, Michailidis, Sidcley, Kurtic (80′ Esiti), Tsingaras, A. Zivkovic (76′ Jaba), Biseswar (72′ Augusto), Mitrita, Akpom (80′ Colak).
